I’ve heard this saying more than a couple of times – “you should fill your own cup first before you attempt to fill someone else’s” – just like how you need to put your own oxygen mask first on an airplane before putting on one to someone else. I’m struggling with how this actually comes into play in real life. Are you meant to wait until your cup is filled – until your self-actualized? Until then are you not supposed to focus on anyone else? It’s almost like you’re supposed to feel enough before you can help anyone else.
I’m starting to realize that I don’t fully agree with the notion. I know that if you fill your own cup, you’ll naturally spill into other people’s – but here’s my problem. When would your cup ever even be full? What if it’s never full? We’ve emphasized the importance of focusing on the journey you’re on and just consistently showing up, so why would we need to fill our cup (aka feel full) before helping others?
I think the caveat here is how you define what is full. Feeling full or satiated could be something as simple as being content with where you are in your life at this moment. And trusting the process that what’s to come is going to be for the best. Every setback, every challenge is a lesson in itself. So maybe filling your cup isn’t about arriving at your destination – it might just be about being content on your journey. Know that your own journey will never match/mirror anyone else’s – and although two journeys can run in parallel and intersect, yours is coupled with your own experiences, skills, and memories. Keep going forward and pushing through.
And lend a hand when you can – it fills your world with positivity and a sense of purpose.
“You define your own full”
